day care

[ dey kair ]

noun

1. supervised daytime care for preschool children, the elderly, or those with chronic disabilities, usually provided at a center outside the home:

   Finding quality day care that we can afford has been challenging.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or providing day care:

   daycare center;

   day-care program.

Word History and Origins

Origin of day care¹

First recorded in 1895–1900 for noun, and 1940–45 for adjective

Example Sentences

Campaigning, the congresswoman spoke of the nearly four-hour round trip the couple drive to take their toddler to the one day care center in their county.

From Los Angeles Times

After her mother’s remarriage and the arrival of another sibling, Edim became a virtual preteen parent, changing diapers, picking up her brothers from day care and school, feeding them and putting them to bed.

From Los Angeles Times

"So, there was a mindset of a champion that I took to work every day. This wasn't day care. If I was going to have fun, I'd go to Disneyland with my kids."

From BBC

“If that happens, you relieve some of the pressure on all the resources that we’re spending on day care.”

From Salon

Power was also out at her child’s day care.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• child care
• daycare
• nursery
• nursery school
• preschool